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rajendersingh
March 2nd, 2003, 09:55 AM
dear all,
there is one more small piece of information on sir seth chhaju ram. kindly go through the site.


www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010922/windows/main2.htm

scsheorayan
March 2nd, 2003, 03:22 PM
Thanks Rajender,

Great man he was and will be remembered by generations to come.

www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010922/windows/main2.htm

Hope this link works.

sudesh
March 2nd, 2003, 05:18 PM
Thank you for sharing the information

ishwarlamba
March 3rd, 2003, 07:41 AM
Thanks Major Rajinder Ji.
It is so informative.
Keep on

rsdalal
March 3rd, 2003, 09:57 AM
Rajender Bhai Thanks for sharing the info.
Let me paste it here in case Tribune decides to remove the page from net in future.
...Ranvir

An illustrious son of the soil, Seth Chhaju Ram
M.M. Juneja

ONE of the greatest philanthropists of the country and a well known maker of modern Haryana was Seth Chhaju Ram. As the present Haryana is famous for its three Lals — Devi Lal, Bansi Lal and Bhajan Lal; there was a time when the region had three popular Rams — Chhaju Ram, Chhottu Ram and Neki Ram. In the history of the country, especially Haryana, Seth Chhaju Ram has his unique place.

Chhaju Ram was born in an ordinary Jat peasant family of Alakhpura village, which is now in Bawanikhera tehsil of Bhiwani district. His date of birth remains confirmed, but the widely accepted year of his birth is 1865. His father, Salig Ram, was Lamba by gotra. Chhaju Ram was the only boy of his village who got enrolled in the primary school of Bawanikhera, five miles away from his native village. He took keen interest in his studies, and always secured good marks. In 1877, he got scholarship in his fifth standard examination, and got admission in Government Middle School, Bhiwani. During his school days at Bhiwani, the following incident left a lasting imprint on his young mind:

The boy Chhaju Ram once purchased an umbrella for Rs 1 on credit. Somehow, he could not pay the amount as he promised. As a result, he changed his route to school to avoid meeting the shopkeeper. He could only resume the old route after he paid the amount. This incident made him realise the value of money!




Chhaju Ram went to Rewari for matriculation. Here, he joined Government High School in 1880. It was probably the only high school then in Haryana. He passed his matriculation in 1882. Being a laborious student, he gained proficiency in English, Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu and Mahajani. While studying in Rewari, Chhaju Ram also worked as a tutor. He taught the son of the Railway Station master, a Bengali gentleman. He received Rs 6 per month. In search of a better job, Chhaju Ram left for Calcutta, the second capital of the British empire, in 1883.

Living in Calcutta (Kolkata), Chhaju Ram came in contact with certain Marwaris. Apart from teaching their children, he worked as their Munshi during his spare time. In those days, the Marwaris had flourishing businesses in Calcutta, which was the hub of jute industries owned by the British. The Marwaris then hardly had any knowledge of English. Chhaju Ram, being their Munshi, wrote business letters for them in English. As a result, he came to know their trade secrets, and in 1893 became a broker. This was a turning point in the life of Chhaju Ram as now his days of financial crisis were over. Remembering his old days, spent at Calcutta from 1883 to 1893, he often said to his children: I had nothing with me except the railfare when I left for Calcutta for the first time. For years to come, I remained hand to mouth. Whenever I wanted to go to my village from Calcutta, I had to borrow money from someone. Then the return journey could also be made possible only with the money borrowed from some villager!

After spending nearly a decade, working first as master then as munshi, a day came when Chhaju Ram was respectfully known as Sethji. His biographer — Shiva Nand Malik has recorded that Chhaju Ram had the following assets by 1928-29: Seth Chhaju Ram had 21 kothis in posh areas of Calcutta — 14 in Alipur and 7 in Bara Bazaar. Besides, he had a double- storeyed haveli in his native village Alakhpura and an ultra-modern farmhouse in the nearby village of Hansi — Shekhupura. The capital of his firm crossed Rs 40 million.

In a nutshell, Seth Chhaju Ram was one of the richest brokers of the country, and the only Indian who had 21 palatial buildings in Calcutta. Seth G.D. Birla had been a tenant of Seth Chhaju Ram. How did Chhaju Ram become a magnate is no doubt an interesting and inspiring story; yet more important and inspiring is the way he spent his money for the welfare of the poor.

Seth Chhaju Ram married twice, first to a girl of Dhohka village in Charkhi Dadri tehsil (Bhiwani district). She bore no child, and died of cholera. The second marriage of Chhaju Ram took place in 1899 with Laxmi Devi. She was of Bilawal village in Charkhi Dadri tehsil. The couple was blessed with five sons and three daughters, but unfortunately five of them met with an untimely death in their childhood years. But the biggest blow came to Chhaju Ram when his eldest son— Sajjan Kumar—died at the age of 36. Seth Chhaju Ram, who could never really recover from the shock, lived for about five years after the death of his son.

Like his father, Sajjan Kumar had been elected a member of the Punjab Legislative Council from the Non-Mohammadan Rural Constituency, Hisar. Seth Chhaju Ram was elected in 1927, while Sajjan Kumar was elected twice in 1930 and 1934.

"There was a day when Chhaju Ram was too poor to pay the price even of an umbrella, and the same Chhaju Ram had now himself become an umbrella of the poor!" The list of his welfare activities is extremely lengthy, so here only a brief account of his philanthropic deeds is given.

Seth Chhaju Ram spent several lakhs of rupees in construction of numerous schools like Jat schools of Rohtak, Hisar and Sangaria; Arya Kanya Pathshalas of Hisar and Calcutta; D.A.V. School of Hisar; and the rural schools at Alakhpura and Khanda Kheri. Besides schools, he extended monetary help to D.A.V. College, Lahore; Indra Prastha (Women) College, Delhi; Benaras Hindu University; Gurukul, Hardwar; Vishwa Bharti, Santiniketan etc. He also financed deserving students for higher education.

Seth Chhaju Ram got the Lady Hailey Hospital built at Bhiwani in 1928. Here, the medicines were given free of cost to the patients. Seth Chhaju Ram got it constructed in the memory of his daughter Kamla (1908-23). This well-equipped hospital was subsequently merged with General Hospital, Bhiwani.

Apart from getting several wells and dharamshalas built, Seth Chhaju Ram established the Arya Samaj Mandir in Calcutta. He also offered liberal donations to various Arya Samaj institutions in the country.

His beneficiaries ranged from common villagers to national celebrities like Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi. Out of respect, his fellow countrymen rightly called Seth Chhaju Ram the Danveer.

Besides being a danveer, Seth Chhaju Ram was an excellent host. Lala Lajpat Rai Punjab Kesari often became the guest of Seth Chhaju Ram. Many Arya Samajis especially those hailing from Punjab and often Haryana stayed with him in Calcutta. Certain revolutionaries too took refuge in his house. Bhagat Singh reached Calcutta from Lahore in December 1928 after killing Saunders. He hid himself in the kothi of Chhaju Ram where Sushila Bahin, a lady of revolutionary leanings, was already residing as a tutor of the Seth’s daughter — Savitri Devi.

Seth Chhaju Ram died on April 7, 1943, in Calcutta. History will always remember him as an illustrious son of the soil, who not only became a rich and successful businessman but also established certain records of public welfare which can hardly be broken by any philanthropist of the nation!

rajendersingh
March 3rd, 2003, 04:32 PM
ranvir bhai ram ram,

thanks for pasting this valuable information on the site.

ranjitjat
March 3rd, 2003, 07:43 PM
Dear Rajender
Nice Information.
Now at least Indian press write that He is a great National leader. DANVEER- FAMOUS AMONG THREE RAMS OF HARYANA.
CH- CHOTU RAM
CH- CHHAJU RAM
PANDIT- NEKI RAM.
There are few books on Ch- CHHAJU RAM &
CH- CHOTU RAM.
We can write few more on our GREAT NATIONAL LEADERS & MARTYRS.
Jaihind

uday
March 3rd, 2003, 08:02 PM
good info....

sanjaychhikara
March 4th, 2003, 04:39 PM
I found this at a new website for Jats; hope u like it

Seth Ch. Chhaju Ram: Business legend

The saga of Indian corporate is full of inspiring and awesome stories of remarkable businessman who have established large and powerful business empires. There are marvelous rags to riches stories such as that of Dhirubhai Ambani who was once an attendant at gas station, or M.S. Oberoi who started his career as a receptionist of a hotel or Mafat Lal Gagal Bhai, the Bombay Textile Tycoon , who was once a cut piece vendor on street pavements. Seth Chhaju Ram was one of these legends.

India was a jewel in the Queen's crown., but most Indians were too poor to afford shoes. We were a colonial economy and it was heavily skewed in favor of export of agricultural goods and raw materials, and the imports of finished goods. India made very few products - almost every thing for the past century and more had been imported. At this time there were hundreds of Indian businessmen who used the shortcut for private gains and profits . But not Seth Ch. Chhaju Ram.

Daanvir Seth Ch. Chajju Ram was born in village Alakhpura, Hansi, Hissar in 1861. Ch. Salig Ram father of Seth Ch Chajju Ram was a humble farmer . Like all village kids of his era, Ch Chhaju Ram also spent his child hood in his village performing every ritual and chorus associated with rural life. He did his primary education from a nearby village 'Bawani Khera, ' middle from Bhiwani and high school from Rewari. Due to prevailing family conditions , he could not study further.

While studying in Bhiwani, Ch Chhaju Ram came in contact with one Aryasmaji engineer Sh. S. N. Rai who was highly impressed by his acumen , well defined goals and humble attitude. Engineer Sh. S.N. Rai took Ch. Chhaju Ram to Calcutta where he assigned him the job of teaching his children. Slowly-slowly Ch. Chhaju Ram came in contact with marwarhi traders and started teaching their children also. During those day by and large , most of the marwarhis not well versed with English language which was a big handicap for them in their business. During his spare time , Ch Chhaju Ram starting writing and drafting business letters and accounts for marwarhi traders. By virtue of his fast learning ability and interpersonal relations , Ch Chhaju Ram made good friends and learnt the skills of running the business in a very short span of time.

By the grace of almighty God, Seth Chhaju Ram started his own business of buying and selling old jute bags (Boris). He took exceptional risks and carved a name for himself as a fighter and negotiator. Progressively his business flourished and big business houses started giving him due recognition and respect. In his drive to build huge empire, he faced all kinds of challenges. From the way he tackled and cleared the obstacles facing him, today's managers can learn how this savvy strategist warded off competitors attack , extracted best out of labor and used the power of lobbying through associations to level the playing field. His main theatre of operations was jute. In a very short span of time , he bought shares of big companies and the entire jute business of Calcutta was under his sole control. People started calling "Jute Magnate". He was director of 10 companies of Andrew Yule and two companies of Birla Brothers. He used to get divided of worth sixteen lakh rupee per annum from these companies. His business had reached pinnacle of his life and there was no turning back. Ch. Chhaju Ram attained the unique distinction and honour of becoming first citizen of Calcutta to buy a Rolls Roy car in Rs. one lakh. He spent large amount of money to buy jamindari of many villages around his paternal village Alakhpura to attain the freedom for his village folks from the cruel crutches and yoke of British bondage. Some time it was popularly known as "Alkhpura Estate".

No success or achievement in material terms is worthwhile unless it serves the needs or interests of the country and its people. Another reason for Ch. Chhaju Ram's fame and renown is his commitment to philanthropy and education. With the aim and objective of providing free education to society, he invested heavily in the tools for progress: schools and collages, whose alumini are the torch bearer of Ch. Chhaju Ram's noble passion. He was the moving sprit behind the foundation and establishment of Gurukul Kangri, Kanya Gurukul Kunkhal , Gurukul Varnandavan, D.A.V. collage Lahore, Jat High schools at Rohtak, Hissar , Sangariya and Khera Garhi. Inter collage Barote (U.P.). Vishva Hindu University Banaras and Shantinekaten. In ever lasting memory of his daughter Kamla, he made Lady Hailly Hospital at Bhiwani where patients were treated freely. He constructed many cowsheds and wells. A large number of needy people were benefited by his benevolence and generosity during drought and other natural calamities.

Seth Chhaju Ram fostered a community sprit and brotherhood among Jats even though it meant making new rivals and more competition for himself. All India Jats Mahasabha was formed in 1906 at Muzzar Nagar(U.P.) and its congregation was graced by delegations from all over the globe. All the expenses of this solemn service were born by Seth. Chhanju Ram. Similarly he organized second congregation of All India Jat Memorial in 1925 at Pushkar (Raj). Seth Chhaju Ram patronised Ch. Chhotu Ram and helped him financially for his education and political activities. He made an elegant and majestic house popularly known as 'BLUE KOTHI' for Ch. Chhotu Ram at Rohtak which was the hub of independence struggle and political activities of bygone era. Seth Chhaju Ram and Ch. Chhotu Ram made formidable team to uplift the down trodden Jat community.

In many ways Seth Chhaju Ram was much more to Jat Community then a businessman or even a real person. As a businessman , Seth Chhaju Ram credited with placing his business on India's map and as a philanthropist, he was respected for keeping alive and building up educational and charitable institutions. He is legend for Jat community not because for his personal triumphs but for the impact his work and efforts have on hundreds of other lives. A trader thinks of today's profits, an industrialist looks at tomorrow's balance but a legend thinks of the next generation

http://www.jatsclub.com/

ranjitjat
March 4th, 2003, 06:52 PM
Sanjay
Thank you for the information & site

rajendersingh
March 4th, 2003, 08:53 PM
Dear sanjay,

keep it up , realy it is the best and the writer deserve KUDOES

ravichaudhary
March 4th, 2003, 10:40 PM
[quote]Sanjay Chhikara (Mar 04, 2003 08:40 a.m.):
I found this at a new website for Jats; hope u like it

Seth Ch. Chhaju Ram: Business legend

Good write up, let us have some more

Who is the creator of this website and how can we encourage/help them ?


Ravi

lrburdak
March 5th, 2003, 11:51 AM
Dear Rajender Singhji,Ranvirji & Sanjayji
Thanks all for sharing informations. We can imagine how difficult it was at that time to rise such heights. Really inspiring.Keep it up.

sweet
April 4th, 2003, 09:52 AM
good job Rajender uncle ji..................keep it up,
regards.